Electrical display system



July 24, 1923. L462875 R, F` STQDDARD ELECTRICAL DISPLAY-SYSTEM Filed OCT.. 27 1919 2 Sheets-51u99?l l July 24, 1923. HAI-62,875

R. F. STODDARD ELECTRICAL DISPLAY SYSTEM.

Filed Oct.. 27, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l l l lm la l l IQ l# l@ llzmmglz im@ ma@ IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

'of a word or even of a number of words,V

` j meer .rally aa, reas.

maar@ 'cataratas Parana earica-- naa r. sronnaan, or perron, omo.

.application mea october a7, 191e. serial no. 333,833. v

To allwlwm it may coment:

Be it known that I, RAY F.` citizen of the United States, ton, in the county of Montgomery and the State of Ohio, have inventedv a new and ruseful Electrical Display System, of which the following is a specification.

invention relates to mechanism for STODDARD, a

M dispiaying successively various letters, characters or other devices,` by means of groups of incandescent lamps. g

Bmey, my lnvention consists 1n provlding a field of lamps arranged close together and mechanism for lighting such of the lamps as are necessary to form a luminous letter or character, or even a design, leaving the remainder of the lamps in the group 'unlighted rllhis mechanism is arranged to light di'er'ent groups successively, so that various effects may be produced. For example, the letters of a word may be made to appear, one after another, and in this way my invention may be used for advertising purposes. A' numberv ofsuch fields of lamps may be used simultaneously, or onel field of sufiicient size, so that all the letters may be displayedsimultaneously. With a not visible.

large field even plctures, such as portraits may be displayed. These effects are pro duced by means of groups or fields o f elec trical contact-making devices corresponding to the fields of lamps, andthe various combinations of contacts are made, by means of perforated strips of flexible insulating material, interposed between the points of the contact-making devices. Such of the cone tactsY as are needed'to form a given letter are lallowed to come together through suitably arranged perforatlons in the strip, the other contacts being kept apart by the unperforated part of the strip. y

One of the objects of my invention is to provide for practically instantaneous changes from one. display to the next, so there will be no appreciable time when a display is Another object is to provide for cutting olf the current from the lamps before the contact couples are separated, thereby avoiding trouble from sparking.

Another object is to operate the make and residing at Day- U 18 leads to a timer which comparatively delicate material, such as paper, for the perforated strips.

Another object is to avoid moving parts 4having7 v wires connected to them, thereby eliminating a very fertile source of trouble in apparatus of .this kind.'

In ther accompanying drawings, which are to a considerable extent diagrammatic, Figv ure 1 is an elevational view of the mechanism by whichthe lightin eEects are produced, and includes a fiel of incandescent lamps to be lighted selectively by the mechanism shown.

Figure 2 is a-side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. In this ligure the lower magnet coil 12 has been omitted to disclosethe support 30, and a portion of the insulating block 10 and all of the lower pole piece 11 has been removed to disclose parts behind`them.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the perforated strip 79 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. -This ligure shows the strip as it would be varranged if its ends were Wound on reels, i. e., if it were not an endless strip.

Fig. 4. is a diagrammatic view of the strip arranged as it would he if it were endless. l provide two sets or fields of contact making mechanisms, which are just alike, each having? a contact couple corre- .sponding to each, of the lamps in the field it controls. One of these mechanisms is seen at the `left side of Figure 1, land comprises a block 10, of insulating material, which is supported at each end by the pole piece 11 of an electromagnet 12. The cores of these magnets are mounted on a suitable .stationary baseB, preferably composed of iron or other magnetic metals See Fig. 2. Fixed in the block 10 are a number of metallic plugs 13, havinga head 14 at one end which is. Hush with the inner surface of the block. F rom'each of these plugs a `wire 15 runs to. one of the lampsin the field of lamps, there hangsas many plugs as there are lamps. In each of the blocks there is one extra, and preferably larger plug, 16, having a head 17, also flush with the inner surface of the block. From this plug a wire Will be described later. l

At the right side of Fi 1 the structure just described is duplica ed, but for convenience the corresponding parts are numbered- 20 lto 28 respectively. Only one wire will ' to wire 15. No other wire 25 is shown, but

it is to be understood that a wire -runs from each of the plugs 13 to one of the lamps, and that a wire 25 runs from each plug 23 to the corresponding wire 15. Only six plugs 13 and six plugs 23 are shown, lbut it is to be understood that there will be as many rows of plugs 13 and 23 as there are rows of lamps in the field, so that each lamp in the ield will berepresented by one plug in each group or field of contact couples.

Midway between the blocks 10 and 20 are mounted on the base B two 'iixed bearings 30. Passing through these bearings, and adapted to slide therein, are rods 31, each of which carriesl at one end a bar 32. These bars are connected by and furnish support for a block 33 of insulating material. Mounted in the block 33 are a plurality of yielding plungers 34, which are contained l in holes bored in the block, and by means of compression springs 35 the plungers are normally forced outward so their ends rotrude beyond the surface of the block.. ach of these plungers is opposite one ofthe heads 14 of a plug 13 in the block 10, so that when the block 33 is pressed toward the block 10, as is the case in the drawing, such of the 'plungers 34 as are opposite perforations in the strip previously mentioned are caused to contactwith the corresponding heads 14. Each head1/1 and co-acting plunger 34 constitute one contact couple. The block 33 also carries one additionalplunger, 36,

` pressedoutward by a spring 37, which is adapted to contact with the head 17 of plug 16. The plungers 34 and 36 are all electrically connected, through their springs, with a metallic pla'te 38. At their opposite ends the rods 31 carry a structure similar to that which has just been described, cor

responding parts being numbered 42 to 48' res ectively. l

he bars 32 are made of iron or other lmagnetic metal, so that when the magnets magnets according to which pair of magnets is energized. For want of a better term I shall call this the movable unit.

The timer and its functions will now be described: It comprises a cylindrical drum 50 mounted on a shaft 51, which shaft is .constantly rotated by' a motor and worm gear while the display system is in operation. See Fig. 2. The drum is composed of insulating material, except that one half of its periphery is covered with a metal shoe 52. Current from any suitable source is carried to the timer by a wire 53, whence it is conducted to brushes 54 and 55, situated respectively on opposite sides of the drum. Adjacent to these brushes are brushes 56 and 57, respectively. Wire 18 is connected to brush 56 and wire 28 to brush 57. The helices of the magnets 12 are connected in series by a wire 58, and one end of the magnet circuit is connected to the wire 18 by a short wire v59, while the other end is connected to awire -60 which is connected to a source of current supply by a wire 61. Similarly, the magnets 22 are connected in series, and supplied with current through wires 28, 62, 63, 64, 60 and 61. With the timer in the position. it occupies in Fig. 1, the magnets 12 are energized by current passing through the shoe 52 from brush 54 to brush 56. Concurrently, current is carried to the plug 16 by wire 18. The plunger 36 is in contact with the head 17 of the plug 16 and carries current to the plate 38, whence it is distributed to the several plungers 34, such of these plungers as happen to be opposite perforations in the strip carrying current to the correspondingr plugs 13 and thence by their 'respective wires 15 'to thel required lamps 65. One end of the filament of each of the lamps is connected to a metal plate 66, or its equivalent, to which the wire 61 is connected. When the timer rotates to -a point where brushes 55 and 57 rest on the shoe 52, the magnets 22 become energized and current is delivered to the plug 27, whence it is distributed in the same manner as has already been described. As soon as the current is cut ofi of the left handv side ofy the system, by the shoe 52 passing out of contact with brushes 54 and 56, the unit is moved to the'rightl by the attraction of Y magnets 22, bringing members of the contact couples together according to the per forations of the interposing strip.

The perforated strip 70 is carried on a support or frame, consisting of a vertical bar 71 carrying at each end a guide 72. The bar 71 is mounted to slide up and down in the fixed bearings`30, and is reciprocated 74 fixed to the shaft 51 that. carries the timing drum. A loop in the strip 70 is mounted on the guides 72, the ends of the loop being brought close together by a pairl of idlers 75. Each end 'of the loop then passes aroung one side of a sprocket wheel 76, mounted to rotate freely on a stud 77, and the ends are then brou ht close-together again by a pair of idlers 8. It is understood thatvthe strip 70 has suitably spaced apertures 79 for the teeth of the sprocket wheel. One branch of the loop passes 'constantly by a pitman 73 driven by a crank through each field of contact couples. Ilfhe operation of the strip will now be described:

Let it be assumed that 4the timer rotates counter-c1ockwisef the guide frame (bar 71 and guides 72) is therefore ascending in Figure 19. F or convenience the right hand field of contact couples will be called the first field and the left hand field the'second; this is because the strip 70 passes through the right hand Held first. lfagnets 12 being energized, because brushes 54 and 56 are on the metallic part of the timer, it follows that the strip 70 is clamped tightly between the blocks 10 and 33, so that as the guide frame ascends, with consequent elongation of the upper portion ofthe loop, i. e., that 'part of the loop above the fields `of contacts, the

strip is drawn upward through the first field. rlhis upward movement of the strip results in the sprocket wheel 76 being rotated by the strip, which enables the sprocket to take up lthe slack that is formed in the lower part of the loop. rllhat is, the same lineal amount of strip is taken out of the lower end of the loop as is added to the upper end.

When the crank 74 reaches its upper dead center, in fact slightly before then, the metallic shoe 52 comes into contact with the brushes 55 `and 57, thereby energizing magnets 22. For a brief period both sets of magnets are energized, because the shoe 52 does not pass from contact with one pair of brushes before coming into contact with the other pair: ButV because of the relatively long gap through which the newly energized magnets must attract the movable unit 4of the contact mechanism, the newly energized magnets are unable to move the .unit until the other magnets become de-energized through the shoe 52 leaving their brushes 54C and 56. But as soon as the shoe 52 passes from beneath the brushes 54 and 56 the unit moves quickly -across the space and clamps the strip 70 in the first or right vhand field. The guide frame now moves lwith a downward, shortening the upper end and lengthening the lower end of the loop,there7 by moving the strip through the second or left hand' field. During the movements of the' guide frame the strip slides around the guides. As the crank passes over the lower dead center the'magnets-of the second field become energized, while those ofl the first are de-energized. and the fee-ding of the /lforations strip is resumed. The movement of the frame isvery slight when the crank is near the dead center and for this reason move-` ment of the strip starts very slowly and gradually. There isnot the slightest tendency to jerk the strip, and therefore, even paper strip there is no liability of tearing it. The strip comes to rest /g'adually, and very slowly at the end, so there is no tendency for the stripn toover-run, i. e.,

Laagste is retiring from service, by the timer, before The strip comes to rest in a the contact couples are separated. rlhe-refore, there is no spark at the contacts. The stationary members of the couples are dush wlth the insulating blocks in which they are set and there is nothing to catch or tear the strip. There )being no wires connected to the movable parts, no trouble is experienced from the wires breaking, as is so often the case where wires are attached to movable parts.

The stroke of the guide frame is equal to the length of a field of contact couples plus a suitable `margin. The length of strip drawn through the firstv field on the up stroke of the guide frame is-just double the length of the frames stroke, from which it follows that there is a. section of strip as long as the section that stops in the first field, which passes through the first'field without stopping. The parts are so portioned -that in due time this section of the strip which has passed through the first held without stopping, will stop in the second field. lt has been seen that the fields of contacts come into action alternately for lighting groups of lamps inthe lamp field.

pro-

(Obviously, the arrangement on the strip ofgroups of perforations must be such as will bring the required group of perforations into each field of contacts at the right time. Accordingly, the strip may be thought of as divided stroke of the frame, and lf shall now describe the preferred arrangement of the groups of the strip. llt will be assumed that the strip.is run from one reel to another; that is, that it is not endless.' lin Fig. 3, the relative positions of the groups are shown. lfn this figure the strip is divided by lines and the space between each two lines represents one group of perforations. are numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., meaning that the group numbered l will be the first one to function, number 2 the second to function,4 number 3 the third, etc. lin Fig. l the arrow heads on the strip correspond to the lines in Fig. 3, and the space between each two arrow heads containsone group of peren the strip is put in place on the guide frame the frame is placed in its lowermost position, thecrank 74: being on the lower dead center. But the electric current is cut od, by means not shown, so that the timing shaft 51 is stationary and the movable unit cany be moved by hand to one side or the other, or left standing in an intermediate position. The strip is put in position on the frame, with the first group of perforations into sections, each 'as long as the' lill@ The group which must function next into position inv the right hand or first field. While this group, the second or No. 2 in the order, isl

functioning, the frame is moving downward to brin the third or No. 3 group into position in t e left hand field. Since the length of strip drawn through the field is double the length of the frames stroke, it follows that a section will pass through the second or left hand field without stopping, said section being as loner as the section which stops in the field. lhis section is between groups 1 and 3,'and it is blank. That it is blank is evident from the fact that section 2 is at that time functioning in the first or right hand field. While section No. 3 is functioning in the left hand field, group No. 4 is coming into position in the right hand field. And here again a section of strip as long as that which comes to rest in this right hand field passes through the field without stopping. While group 4 is functioning, group 5 is brou vht into place in the left hand field, and whlle group 5 is functioning in the left hand field group 6 is coming into place in the right field, and so on. This `matter will be made clearer by referring to Figs. 1 and 3. Suppose it is grou 5 which is at present clamped in the left liand field. In Fig. 3 it is Seen that the next group to No. 5 is iNo. 2. Therefore, the groupjust above the left hand field is No. 2. The grou lying on the upper guide 72 is No. 7 an the group between the guide and the right hand field is No. 4. Group No. 9 is passing through the right hand field and just below the field is group No. 6, which will corne to rest in the field when the frame 71-72 reaches the upper limit of its travel, where it will remain stationary while the frame moves to its lowermost position.

It is now seen that the first, third, fifth, etc., groups function in the left hand field and the second, fourth, sixth, etc., groups function in the right hand field. In other words, all of the odd numbers in the order of functioning stop in the left and the even numbers in the right field. From the .fact that the strip moves at eachustep twice as far as the length of one section or group of perforations, it is obvious that between each of the odd numbered groups theres an intervening section or group. It has already been seen that between groups, 1 and 3 there is a blank section; there is also a blank bebe at least two sections of strip between the first and second fields. At such times the section which is nearest the first field will be the next one to function in the second field, while the one nearest the second field is that which functioned in the first field next previous to the one that has just com pleted its work in that field. Starting with the first or No. 1 group or section in the left hand field and two sections between that and the right hand field, it is clear that the fourth section then stands in the right hand or first field. As this section will be removed from the left hand field by the upward movement of the frame, and since, having found rest for a time in the first field it will pass through the second field with out stopping, it is evident that this fourth section is blank. The upward movement of the frame draws up two sections of the strip, the first of which passes through the first field without stopping, it is clear that the section which stops in the first field is the sixth in numerical order on the strip, 'and it has already been seen that this section contains the second or N o. 2 group of perforations.

From the foregoing it is seen that the lgroups of perforations are arranged in the following order on the strip: 1, 3, 5, 2, 7, 4, 9, 6, etc. The length of the stretch between the first and second field when the guide frame'is inits lower position must not be less than two sections, but it may be i increascdlto four, six, eight, etc., and for cach such increase there will be one additional blank space at the beginning of the strip. For example, if with the frame in its lowest position there are four sections between the first and second fields the order of arrangement will be 1, 3, 5, 7, 2, 9, 4, 11, 6, 13, etc; If desired the groups may be arranged on the strip in such a manner that the groups of odd numbers will function in the first field and those of, even numbers in the second field. In that case the arrangement will be as follows, assuming that there are but two sections between the first .field and second when the guide frame isvdown: 2, 4, 1, 6, 3, 8, 5,' 10, 7, 12, etc. In case the strip is made endless and it is desired that the groups of perforations shall function repeatedly without interruption, there will be no blank spaces, those which have been described as blank carrying the last one, two or three groups. For example, suppose the whole scheme requires fifty groups of perforations; then the arrangement would be 47, 44, 49, 46, 1, 48, 3, 50, 5, 2, 7, 4, 9, etc.l See Fig. 4.

It is now seen that while one letter, figure, or design is beingdisplayed on the field of lamps, preparations are going on for display of the next letter or the like, and that when the time comes, depending on the interposed strip l of incandescent lamps, two fie of incandescent lam s, two fie X velocit of the timer, the letter is changed instant y; that is as quickly as the Inov-J able contact unit can move from one side to the other. lt has been shown how the strip is protected from injury so that even a paper strip can be used.. Thismakesit feasi le to use a paper strip once and. then discard it.'

As previously stated, the drawings are to a considerable extent diagrammatic, alj though the vital'parts of .the structure are shown in detail. ll do not wish to `co'ntine myself to the particular structural features-v shown, as it is clear that modications will! su aving shownwhat at lpresent l regardas the preferred structure, l claim:

lln an electrical display system, a eld: of incandescent lamps, afield of contactcouples, each couple adapted tov control one. of said lamps, an insulating strip between the members of said couples, having perforations which permit only predetermined Y couples to contact, means independent ,of the 1nterposed strip for separating the contactingr couples, and means for moving the strip while said couples are separated, said means moving the strip very slowly at rst, gradu ally accelerating its movement, and then gradually diminishing its velocity, finally brin ing it gently to rest. l

2. n an electrical display system, a eld of incandescent lamps, a field of contact ,couples, each couple adapted to control one of said lamps, an insulating strip between the members of said couples, having perforations which permit only predetermined couples to contact, means independent of the for separating the cou-ples, and means for moving the strip intermit-v tently, movement of the strip occurring only whilethe couples are separate; the distance moved by the strip at each step bein-g ap-v proximately twice that required to' cover the field of'contact couples.

3. ln an electrical display system, a field ds of contact one couple in each field adapted to one and the same lamp in said field lamps;1a single strip of insulating matecouples, control of rial adapted to pass between the members of each field having perforations which permit onlylpredetermined couples tol contact, means for moving said strip intermittently to bringnew sections thereof successively between the fields of contact couples, and

- means for holding the strip stationary between either of the fields of contact members while it is moving with reference tothe other field of members. i

d. lln an electrical display system, a field ds of contact couples, onecouple 1n each field adapted to control one and the same lamp in said field of lamps; a single strip ofA insulating matemasacre a section of the strip is held est themselves to those"v skilled in the art.,=' fi rial adapted to pass :perforated sections successively into the :fields of contacts, said means operating so as to cause alternate sections to stop in one field of contacts and the intervening sections to stop in the `other field, and means whereby in re 'stration with the members-of one field whi e a new sefition is moving into position in the other 5. ln an electrical display system, a held of incandescent lamps, two fields of contact couples, one couple in each field adapted to control one and the same lamp in said field of lamps; `a single stri of insulating matehetween the contact members of said fields, said strip being die vided into sections, each section having perporations which will permit only predeterf mined couples to contact; means for moving the strip intermittently so as to bring .these perforated sections successively into the fields of contacts, said means operating so as to cause alternate sections to stop in one field of contactsl and the intervening sections to stop in the other field, means whereby a section of the strip is4 held in registration with the members of 'one field while a new section is moving into position in the other liti@ lll@ situated that there is a stretch of the peri porated strip which has passed through the first field but not yet entered the' second, and means AYfor', alternately increasing the length of this intermediate stretch while the portion of the stripwhich is in the second field' isheld stationary therein, and decreasing the length of said stretch while holding the portion of the strip that is 1n the rst field stationary therein; thereby alternately lmoving the strip in one field while it is motionless in the other held, but efiecting on the whole an advance of thet strip through the fields.1

7. lin an electrical display system, a held nf incandescent lam s, two elds of contact couples, one couple 1n each field adapted to control one and the same lamp 1n said held llll are

of lamps; a strip of insulating material adapted to pass successively between the members of said fields of contacts, said strip being divided into sections, each having` a group of perforations which will permit only such couples in a field to contact as are required to illuminate predetermined lamps, said fields being so situated that there is a stretch ofvinsulat-ing strip between them; means for alternately lengthening and shortening this intermediate stretch, comprising means for holding the strip stationary in the second field while pulling a given length of' it through the first, then holding it stationary in the first field while pulling an equal length through thesecond, said given length being equal to two sections on the strip, thereby causing sections which are held in thefirst field to pass through the second field without stopping,

8. In an electrical display system, a field of incandescent lamps, two fields of contact couples, one couple in each field adapted to control one and the same lamp in said field of lamps, said fields of contacts being arranged in opposed parallel planes; a strip of insulating material arranged to move successively through both fields of contacts, said strip passing around one side of a sprocket wheel and having perforations to cooperate with the teeth of said wheel, before entering the first field, around a guide after leaving the first field, whereby the str/ip is directed from the first field to the second field, through said field, around a second guide, and then around the remaining side of the sprocket wheel, suitable idlers holding the strip in place on the sprocket; means for moving the two guides to and fro with reference to the fields simultaneously, whereby the stretches of insulating stripbetween the fields are alternately lengthened and shortened, one stretch being lengthened while the other is shortened, and means for holding the stripl stationary with reference to the second field while the stretch between the. first and second field is being lengthened and for holding it stationary in the first field while the stretchabetween the second and first field is being lengthened.

9. In an electrical display system, a field of incandescent lamps, two fields of contact couples, one couple in each field adapted to control one and the same lamp in said field of lamps, said fields of contacts being arp ranged in opposed parallel planes; a strip of insulating material arranged to move successively through both fields of contacts, said strip passing around one side of a sprocket wheel and having perforations to cooperate with the teeth of said wheel, before entering the first field, around a ide after leavin the first field, whereby tel strip is directe from the first field to the second field, through said field, around a second guide,

and then around the remaining side of the sprocket wheel, suitable idlers holding the' strip in place on the sprocket; a bar .o-n which said guides are mounted, said bar being mounted in bearings` in which it may reciprocate in a line parallel to the fields of contacts, a constantly rotating shaft, a crank thereon 'and a pitman connecting it to said bar, whereby the bar is reciprocated, and means whereby the strip is held stationary in one of the fields while the bar moves in one directionand stationary in the other field while-the bar moves in the opposite direction.

10. In a device of the character described, two fields of contact couples arranged in opposed parallel planes, each field comprising a stationary field of contact members and a movable field of contact members, each member in the latter being adapted to contact with one member in the former when the field in which it belongs is moved against its stationary companion, and to vseparate therefrom when moved away from said companion, said movable fields connected together so that when one is against its comv panion the other is removed far enough from its companion to separate the contact couples a substantial distance; bearings by which said united movable fields are Supported and in which they may move to and fro between the stationary fields; l magnets associated with each stationary field, whereby its Inovable field is drawn to it, and means for energizing the magnets alternately, whereby the movable fields are attracted to their respective stationary fields alternately.

11. In a device of the character described,y

two fields of contact couples arranged in opposed parallel planes, each field comprising a stationary field of contact members and a movablefield of contact members,each member in the latter being adapted to contact with one member in the former when the field in which it belongs is moved against its stationary companion', and to separate therefrom, when moved away from said com-- panion, saidumovable fieldsv being connected together so that when one is against' its companion the other is removed far enough from its companion to separate the contact couples a substantial distance; bearings by which said united movable fields are supported and in which they may moveto and fro between the stationary fields; magnets associated izo with each stationary field, whereby its movable eld' isdrawn to it, a strip of insulating material adapted to L pass successively through said fields of contacts and having perforations, which permit the members of only predetermined couples to come together, said strip being divided into sections, each containing a complete group ofperforations, means for moving the vstrip intermittently so as to bring said sections successively into the elds of contacts, said means operating so as to cause alternate sections to stop in one field and the intervening sections to stop in the other field, said means also moving the strip in the field whose contact members are separated while vanother portion of the strip is clamped in the other field through the. action of the magnets; a constantly rotating shaft whereby said strip moving mechanism is operated and a timing device carried by said shaftwhereby the magnets are ener ized so as to clamp the strip between the fields alternately and whereby current is supplied to the field in which the is clamped and cut ofi` from the other e 12. A strip of suitable material, having groups of perforations, adapted to perform a certain function as a part of a scheme requiring thev successive functioning in numerical order of a plurality of such groups of perforations; the groups being divided into two series, one containing each group being the odd and the other the even numbers in said numerical order, and arranged on the strip'so odd and even numbers alternate, but with one series advanced with reference to the other, so the order number ofany given group is greater or less `than the order num- `numbers here given representing the order in which they function in said scheme: l,

3,-5, 2, 7,4, 9, 6, etc. l

In testimony whereof I amx my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RAY F. STODDARD. Witnesses: Y

L. E. SPEER, G. W. RmDLn. 

